Conveniently an Orphan: Difference between revisions

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'''Refia:''' "Too"? You mean-- <br />

'''Arc:''' I'm one, too! <br />

'''Ingus:''' Wait a minute...I, too, have no parents...|''[[~~Final Fantasy III (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy III]] DS''}}

'''Ingus:''' Wait a minute...I, too, have no parents...|''[[Final Fantasy III]] DS''}}

All people come with a past, a family, friends, a heritage, in other words: Every person has roots!

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Handily prevents the sadistic [[Game Master]] from exploiting [[The Load|'weak links']] that can get [[Distressed Damsel|kidnapped]] or [[Player Punch|killed off]]. If the fates of the missing parents are left nebulous, it also opens the door for that infamous twist where one of them turns out to be a villain. [[Luke, I Am Your Father|You know the one]].

Oddly enough, family outside of parents is never mentioned. Apparently [[World of No Grandparents|no one ever has grandparents]] or cousins, although having an uncle (and sometimes aunt) as surrogate parents is a common mythological motif. Siblings seem to only show up for plot-based reasons -- and not [[Promotion to Parent]], which would give them responsibilities. One wonders how the world manages to get populated when every couple only has one child. Surrogate parents show up more regularly in the form of [[Raised By Natives]], they [[Death By Origin Story|tend to]] [[Friendly Target|die a lot]] too.

Oddly enough, family outside of parents is never mentioned. Apparently [[World of No Grandparents|no one ever has grandparents]] or cousins, although having an uncle (and sometimes aunt) as surrogate parents is a common mythological motif. Siblings seem to only show up for plot-based reasons -- and not [[Promotion to Parent]], which would give them responsibilities. One wonders how the world manages to get populated when every couple only has one child. Surrogate parents show up more regularly in the form of [[Raised by Natives]], they [[Death By Origin Story|tend to]] [[Friendly Target|die a lot]] too.

The hero's orphaning is also a nice triggering point for the hero's journey. This part of the Hero's backstory is often covered in a [[Flash Back]]. If the orphaning happens at the very beginning of the story, instead of in the background, it's usually covered by [[Doomed Hometown]].

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** And the status of the parents of Lina's later allies in the novels (Luke and Milina) is unknown.

* 80% of all characters in ''[[G Gundam]]'' are orphans, major and minor characters, and a few of them have only one parent. The rest are undetermined. For many of them, this plays a role in why they became Gundam Fighters.

* Almost everyone in ''[[Saint Seiya ~~the~~ Lost Canvas]]'', justified since it's set in the 18th century Europe.

* Almost everyone in ''[[Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas]]'', justified since it's set in the 18th century Europe.

* Hayate of ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'', which allowed her to raise a family of [[Ridiculously-Human Robots|sentient alien programs]] on her own [[Wise Beyond Their Years|since the age of nine]] and, as mentioned in the [[Comic Book Adaptation|supplementary comics]], move to Mid-childa before she even graduated from high school. Like most orphans, she does have an "[[Honorary Uncle|uncle]]" who was a friend of her father's taking care of her, although it's only financially {{spoiler|and it turns out that he never knew her father, and believes that because she is an orphan, few will have to mourn her once she's sealed away with the Book of Darkness}}.

* Most of the Strawhat crew in ''[[~~One Piece (Manga)|~~One Piece]]'' are victims of this trope, often more than once. Both Nami and Franky, for example, were orphaned at a young age, but taken in and raised by a kind foster parent...only for them to die as well. But they've still got it better than Robin, who didn't just lose her parents, but HER ENTIRE HOME ISLAND, of which she is the only survivor. Most of the others seem to have absentee parents of one form or another; the only member whose mother and father are both seen is Usopp, a victim of both this trope AND [[Parental Abandonment]] (his dad left to become a pirate, and his mom died shortly after. You think he'd hate his dad, but he actually idolizes him.)

* Most of the Strawhat crew in ''[[One Piece]]'' are victims of this trope, often more than once. Both Nami and Franky, for example, were orphaned at a young age, but taken in and raised by a kind foster parent...only for them to die as well. But they've still got it better than Robin, who didn't just lose her parents, but HER ENTIRE HOME ISLAND, of which she is the only survivor. Most of the others seem to have absentee parents of one form or another; the only member whose mother and father are both seen is Usopp, a victim of both this trope AND [[Parental Abandonment]] (his dad left to become a pirate, and his mom died shortly after. You think he'd hate his dad, but he actually idolizes him.)

** For a while, it seemed that Luffy was a victim of this trope as well, his lack of parentage explained with a throwaway remark that "that kid has no parents" in the first chapter. Years later, we learned that Luffy was actually raised by his grandfather, and that his dad, at least, is alive (he's just the most wanted man in the world, which can make it tough to raise a kid.)

* Simon of ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' lost his parents in an earthquake before the start of the series, so when his [[Blood Brothers|blood brother]] Kamina decides they're going to the surface, he doesn't have anything holding him back. In a twist, Gimmy and Darry are chosen to go to the surface explicitly because they don't have family who will mourn their departure.

* Nearly all of the members of the ''[[Science Ninja Team Gatchaman ~~(Anime)~~|Gatchaman]]'' team are orphans, except for Ryu {{spoiler|and Ken prior to his father's [[Heroic Sacrifice]]}}. This is the main reason Ryu is usually left tending the Phoenix while the others get all of the action; he still has a family that would miss him if anything happened to him.

* Nearly all of the members of the ''[[Science Ninja Team Gatchaman|Gatchaman]]'' team are orphans, except for Ryu {{spoiler|and Ken prior to his father's [[Heroic Sacrifice]]}}. This is the main reason Ryu is usually left tending the Phoenix while the others get all of the action; he still has a family that would miss him if anything happened to him.

* Sousuke Sagara of ''[[Full Metal Panic]]'' being rendered an orphan helps justify why he can keep risking his life with no regard for consequences. Although his mother dying for his sake and her dramatic [[Last Words]] telling him he must "live," "never give up," and "fight!" does have the other purpose of making him the [[Crazy Survivalist]] he is today, it mainly seems to serve as a plot device to allow the readers to realize he simply has no one waiting for him.

* At one point in ''[[Hellsing]]'', during the [[Action Film Quiet Drama Scene|Quiet Drama Scene]], while discussing Seras' progress Alucard asks Walter how they covered up her death and how her family is taking it. When Walter replies that she has none and is an orphan, Alucard sardonically replies "Of ''course'' she is". However, since Seras was already an adult by the time she died, the circumstances and consequences of her parents' deaths turns out to be a major part of her character and the series veering into [[Crapsack World]] territory and running on [[Black and Grey Morality]], it's a justified trope.

* Son Goku of ''[[~~Dragonball~~]]''. Some time before the series began, he accidentally killed his adoptive grandfather after transforming into a giant were-ape. As for blood relatives, ''[[Dragonball Z]]'' reveals {{spoiler|that pretty much his entire ''race'' were wiped out along with their home planet}}.

* Son Goku of ''[[Dragon Ball]]''. Some time before the series began, he accidentally killed his adoptive grandfather after transforming into a giant were-ape. As for blood relatives, ''[[Dragonball Z]]'' reveals {{spoiler|that pretty much his entire ''race'' were wiped out along with their home planet}}.

* ''[[Kimba the White Lion]]'': Played straight with [[Love Interest|Lyra]] who is able to play and go on adventures with Kimba, but the trope is [[Deconstructed Trope|deconstructed]] with Kimba due to his [["Well Done, Son" Guy]] relationship he has with his father who [[Death By Origin Story|was killed off before Kimba was born.]]

* In ''[[Pokémon Special]]'', Red is the only Dex Holder to have no family even alluded to, leaving him free to travel the world where ever and whenever he wants.

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* [[Iron Man]]

* [[Batman]]

* [[Spider Man]]. He has his beloved aunt, and his uncle [[Death By Origin Story|lived long enough]] to [[An Aesop|say the thing that has shaped most of Spidey's career]].

* [[Spider-Man]]. He has his beloved aunt, and his uncle [[Death By Origin Story|lived long enough]] to [[An Aesop|say the thing that has shaped most of Spidey's career]].

** Also more than a few members of the supporting cast have lost one (Mary Jane, Harry Osborn, John Jameson) or both (Betty Brant, Gwen Stacy) parents.

* The debut issue of ''[[Incredible Hulk (Comic Book)|The Incredible Hulk]]'' makes it clear up front that Rick Jones (Bruce Banner's newly-acquired teenaged sidekick) is an orphan.

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* The Plutonian of ''[[Irredeemable]]'' is yet another convenient superhero orphan. The series actually deconstructs this Trope, examining the effect it can really have on a little boy with super-powers.

** The Plutonian was also abandoned by his subsequent foster parents, after he accidentally crippled their biological son. They even devoted themselves to ''never speak again'' just so he wouldn't pick up their voices by superhearing.

* [[~~Tom Strong (Comic Book)|~~Tom Strong]]. Orphaned at around age 8, after being raised in a gravity chamber by his parents.

* [[Tom Strong]]. Orphaned at around age 8, after being raised in a gravity chamber by his parents.

* [[Tintin ~~(Comic Book)~~]]. Most members of his recurring supporting cast come without familial attachments.

* [[Tintin]]. Most members of his recurring supporting cast come without familial attachments.

== Film ==

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** Used as a (possible) plot point; he was chosen ''because'' he's an orphan, so family is not a factor upon training/traveling, nor will it be leverage should he be captured.

* A great many of the main characters in ''[[Star Wars]]'' are orphans. Han Solo and Anakin Skywalker are both orphans. Both Luke and Leia are orphaned - twice. Every Jedi raised back the Clone Wars era (and a long time before that as well), save Anakin and a few others I may have forgotten, was taken from their parents when they were still an infant and brought to the Temple.

* {{spoiler|Flynn Rider}} has this trope as part of his backstory in ''[[~~Tangled (Disney)|~~Tangled]]''. His motivation behind {{spoiler|being a thief}} is because of growing up poor.

* {{spoiler|Flynn Rider}} has this trope as part of his backstory in ''[[Tangled]]''. His motivation behind {{spoiler|being a thief}} is because of growing up poor.

* The two aliens of ''[[Megamind]]'' are both orphans in the extreme, given that their entire home planets have been destroyed. This allows them to experience two very different childhoods upon arriving on Earth.

* An extreme number of Disney characters have missing or killed parents. The characters where both parents are absent are: [[Aladdin (Disney)|Aladdin]], [[Lilo and Stitch|Lilo and Nani]], [[Snow White ~~and The Seven Dwarfs~~ (Disney)|Snow White and all seven of the Dwarfs]], [[Cinderella (Disney)|Cinderella]], [[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney)|Quasimodo, Esmerelda]], [[The Jungle Book|Mowgli]], [[Peter Pan|Peter Pan and the Lost Boys]], [[Tarzan]], [[The Sword in ~~The~~ Stone|Arthur]], and [[The Fox and The Hound|Tod]].

* An extreme number of Disney characters have missing or killed parents. The characters where both parents are absent are: [[Aladdin (Disney film)|Aladdin]], [[Lilo and Stitch|Lilo and Nani]], [[Snow White (Disney film)|Snow White and all seven of the Dwarfs]], [[Cinderella (Disney film)|Cinderella]], [[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney film)|Quasimodo, Esmerelda]], [[The Jungle Book|Mowgli]], [[Peter Pan|Peter Pan and the Lost Boys]], [[Tarzan]], [[The Sword in the Stone|Arthur]], and [[The Fox and The Hound|Tod]].

* Subverted in ''[[Ordinary People]]'' (the novel more than the film, though it's mentioned in both). Calvin, the father, grew up in an orphanage in Detroit. While he lives a very stable life as a successful tax lawyer with a wife and children, he's haunted by his past and admits to feelings of rootlessness when he talks to his son's psychiatrist.

== Literature ==

* ''[[~~The Lord of the Rings (Literature)|~~The Lord of the Rings]]'': Frodo Baggins was orphaned at twelve, but was raised in his family's home by said extended family; when he turned 21 (adult-ish but not yet legally adult for hobbits) he was adopted by and went to live with his 'uncle' Bilbo (who, of course, conveniently leaves).

* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'': Frodo Baggins was orphaned at twelve, but was raised in his family's home by said extended family; when he turned 21 (adult-ish but not yet legally adult for hobbits) he was adopted by and went to live with his 'uncle' Bilbo (who, of course, conveniently leaves).

** Bilbo himself, though not an orphan, manages to avoid marriage, and thus has no family ties holding him back when he goes on his adventure.

* [[Oliver Twist]] is an orphan.

* Molly Moon from the Molly Moon books, as well as most of her friends.

* Kinsey Millhone loves being an orphan (was raised by her aunt).

* [[Harry Potter]] is an orphan, raised by his aunt and uncle. [[JK Rowling]] has admitted to using this trope in interviews, and that the original drafts of the first book killed off Harry's parents rather anticlimactically--it wasn't until [[Creator Breakdown|she lost her own mother that Harry's parents' sacrifices became an important plot point.]]

* [[Harry Potter]] is an orphan, raised by his aunt and uncle. [[J. K. Rowling]] has admitted to using this trope in interviews, and that the original drafts of the first book killed off Harry's parents rather anticlimactically--it wasn't until [[Creator Breakdown|she lost her own mother that Harry's parents' sacrifices became an important plot point.]]

* ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' features many of them.

** Commissiars are required to be orphans. As a consequence:

*** [[Sandy Mitchell]]'s [[Ciaphas Cain]]. Amberly Vail notes that he gives out little information about his past, and that about his parents contradicts known facts.

*** [[Dan Abnett]]'s Ibram Gaunt of ''[[~~Gaunts~~ Ghosts]]''. Down to a plot-significant [[Orphan's Plot Trinket]] and [[Tell Me About My Father]]. Also Ludd, although this receives only brief mention, and Hark, though this gets no mention at all.

*** [[Dan Abnett]]'s Ibram Gaunt of ''[[Gaunt's Ghosts]]''. Down to a plot-significant [[Orphan's Plot Trinket]] and [[Tell Me About My Father]]. Also Ludd, although this receives only brief mention, and Hark, though this gets no mention at all.

** Ragnor Blackmane, of William King's ''[[Space Wolf]]'' novels, is orphaned in the opening of the first. A major motivation for him is desire for [[Revenge]] on a fellow Space Marine who had been part of the opposing force.

* You would not believe how many characters in the [[Star Wars Expanded Universe]] are orphaned. [[X Wing Series|Wedge Antilles]] lost both his parents when he was around twelve, Tycho Celchu was a pilot for the Empire whose entire family was on Alderaan, Corran Horn lost his mother to a speeder accident and his father to a criminal. Most of these characters are adults, and the loss of their parents spurred them to join the Rebellion. While her parents aren't dead, Mara Jade was taken from them at an early age and never looked back.

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** His ''mother'' left before he was born.

*** Lampshaded/mentioned in Unseen Academicals when only people with a note from their mother are excused from playing football. Rincewind asks the Arch-Chancellor for permission to go ask his mother for such a note. "I thought you said you didn't have a mother." [beat] "Permission to go find her, Arch-Chancellor?"

* Simon from ''[[Memory Sorrow and Thorn ~~(Literature)~~|Memory Sorrow and Thorn]]'' is an orphan. Adopted and raised by the mistress of chambermaids, he has no family to pine for when evil comes and he is forced to flee his home. His orphaning [[Moses in ~~The~~ Bulrushes|becomes a plot point later]].

* Simon from ''[[Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn|Memory Sorrow and Thorn]]'' is an orphan. Adopted and raised by the mistress of chambermaids, he has no family to pine for when evil comes and he is forced to flee his home. His orphaning [[Moses in the Bulrushes|becomes a plot point later]].

* In the Replica series, Nancy Candler is an orphan with no living relatives, making it easy for her to pass off an adopted genetically altered clone as her biological daughter without anyone raising eyebrows.

* The title character in ''[[James and ~~The~~ Giant Peach]]'' was orphaned at a young age, and is being raised by his two evil aunts until they get squashed by the peach.

* The title character in ''[[James and the Giant Peach]]'' was orphaned at a young age, and is being raised by his two evil aunts until they get squashed by the peach.

* [[Moses in ~~The~~ Bulrushes]]. Moses is an orphan. This way the author can give him Jewish heritage ''and'' have him sacrifice his privileged Egyptian social status.

* [[Moses in the Bulrushes]]. Moses is an orphan. This way the author can give him Jewish heritage ''and'' have him sacrifice his privileged Egyptian social status.

** Actually, Moses biological parents weren't only alive when they cast him off, his mom wound up becoming his nurse, so they raised him too.

* [[Doc Savage]] lost his father in his very first adventure, The Man of Bronze, and his mother had died at some point prior to that. Which begs the question, if you're full grown when your parents die, are you still an orphan?

* In [[A Song of Ice and Fire]], Yoren deliberately invokes this, telling {{spoiler|Arya}} to claim to be an orphan, since no one will give an orphan taking the Black a second glance.

* Per [[Word of God]], virtually everyone in the web-novel ''[[~~Domina (Literature)|~~Domina]]''. "If a character's parents aren't mentioned, its safe to assume its because they're dead." That's what happens when you live in a [[Wretched Hive]].

* Per [[Word of God]], virtually everyone in the web-novel ''[[Domina]]''. "If a character's parents aren't mentioned, its safe to assume its because they're dead." That's what happens when you live in a [[Wretched Hive]].

* Harry Dresden, from the Dresden Files. His mother died shortly after he was born, and his father died when he was around 7. Then, later on, while living with Justin Du Morne he's orphaned again when {{spoiler|he kills Justin}}.

* ''Sisterhood'' series by [[Fern Michaels]]: Okay, Nikki Quinn's parents are dead. Kathryn Lucas's parents are dead. Isabelle Flanders's parents are dead (maybe). Yoko Akia's mother is dead and her father is a [[Complete Monster]]. Abner Tookus's parents are dead (maybe). There's certainly a lot of orphan characters to go around!

* ''[[The ~~Hitchhikers~~ Guide to ~~The~~ Galaxy]]'': Ford Prefect is not only an orphan but the [[Last of His Kind]], which provides a convenient explanation for why his original alien name is totally forgotten.

* ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'': Ford Prefect is not only an orphan but the [[Last of His Kind]], which provides a convenient explanation for why his original alien name is totally forgotten.

* Subverted in [[~~The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Literature)|~~The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]; Dorothy is stated to be an orphan, but lives with her foster parents in Kansas. She loves them enough that despite all the beauty of Oz and the friends she made, she is determined to go back anyway.

* Subverted in [[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]; Dorothy is stated to be an orphan, but lives with her foster parents in Kansas. She loves them enough that despite all the beauty of Oz and the friends she made, she is determined to go back anyway.

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== Video Games ==

* A ''[[Parental Abandonment|really]]'' common occurrence in ''[[Final Fantasy]]'':

** Cloud from ''[[~~Final Fantasy VII (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy VII]]'' (covered in a flashback halfway through Disc 1).

** Cloud from ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' (covered in a flashback halfway through Disc 1).

*** And Aerith (though she was raised by Elmyra for fifteen years), Tifa, Marlene (raised by Barret), Red XIII...

** In ''[[~~Final Fantasy III (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy III]]'', all the main characters are orphans, although three had been adopted and one was working for the king by the time the game begins.

** In ''[[Final Fantasy III]]'', all the main characters are orphans, although three had been adopted and one was working for the king by the time the game begins.

** Most of the main characters are orphans in ''[[~~Final Fantasy VIII (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy VIII]]'' as well, with the exception of Rinoa who was a [[Rebellious Princess]]. Most side characters were as well as SeeD specifically recruit from orphanages, because that is what Gardens started off as. [[Tyke Bomb]] gone into a full blown army.

** Most of the main characters are orphans in ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'' as well, with the exception of Rinoa who was a [[Rebellious Princess]]. Most side characters were as well as SeeD specifically recruit from orphanages, because that is what Gardens started off as. [[Tyke Bomb]] gone into a full blown army.

** ''[[~~Final Fantasy IV (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy IV]]'': Cecil and Kain were orphaned and taken in by King Baron, and Rydia becomes an orphan in-game. Edge orphans himself, killing his parents after they become chimarea. Polom and Porom are raised by Mysidia's elder and may or may not be orphans.

** ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]'': Cecil and Kain were orphaned and taken in by King Baron, and Rydia becomes an orphan in-game. Edge orphans himself, killing his parents after they become chimarea. Polom and Porom are raised by Mysidia's elder and may or may not be orphans.

** ''[[~~Final Fantasy V (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy V]]'' has the [[Idiot Hero]] being an orphan at the game's beginning, the [[Rebellious Princess|rebellious princesses]] losing their father halfway through the game and the [[Sixth Ranger]] being a replacement for her dead grandpa, who was also her last relative. To sum up, in the end of the game, nobody in your party has elder family members left.

** ''[[Final Fantasy V]]'' has the [[Idiot Hero]] being an orphan at the game's beginning, the [[Rebellious Princess|rebellious princesses]] losing their father halfway through the game and the [[Sixth Ranger]] being a replacement for her dead grandpa, who was also her last relative. To sum up, in the end of the game, nobody in your party has elder family members left.

** ''[[~~Final Fantasy VI (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy VI]]'' has Terra, Edgar, and Sabin explicitly stated as orphans as part of the plot. Gau is essentially and orphan. Relm may or may not be an orphan, it may just be a [[Disappeared Dad]]. The rest of the cast never mention their families.

** ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'' has Terra, Edgar, and Sabin explicitly stated as orphans as part of the plot. Gau is essentially and orphan. Relm may or may not be an orphan, it may just be a [[Disappeared Dad]]. The rest of the cast never mention their families.

** Zidane in ''[[~~Final Fantasy IX (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy IX]]''. Truth be told, {{spoiler|he's revealed never to have had parents at all.}}

** Zidane in ''[[Final Fantasy IX]]''. Truth be told, {{spoiler|he's revealed never to have had parents at all.}}

** In ''[[~~Final Fantasy X (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy X]]'', Tidus, Yuna, Seymour, Wakka, and Lulu are all missing both parents {{spoiler|well... a case could be made for Tidus, but that's different}}. Kimahri's family disowned him, Rikku's mother is dead, and we never hear anything about Auron's parents. Only two of the main characters have siblings, and one of them is dead. Probably justified to demonstrate that Sin has touched everyone's lives.

** In ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'', Tidus, Yuna, Seymour, Wakka, and Lulu are all missing both parents {{spoiler|well... a case could be made for Tidus, but that's different}}. Kimahri's family disowned him, Rikku's mother is dead, and we never hear anything about Auron's parents. Only two of the main characters have siblings, and one of them is dead. Probably justified to demonstrate that Sin has touched everyone's lives.

** ''[[~~Final Fantasy XI (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy XI]]'' has {{spoiler|Lion}}, Prishe, Aphmau, and Lilith. (Although the last one is trying to avert the trope through [[Time Travel]].) Can we get Square into a 12-step program to deal with their addiction to this trope?

** ''[[Final Fantasy XI]]'' has {{spoiler|Lion}}, Prishe, Aphmau, and Lilith. (Although the last one is trying to avert the trope through [[Time Travel]].) Can we get Square into a 12-step program to deal with their addiction to this trope?

** Both Vaan and Penelo from ''[[~~Final Fantasy XII (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy XII]]''

** Both Vaan and Penelo from ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]''

*** Ditto with [[Ascended Extra|Ascended Extras]] Kytes and Filo from the sequel ''[[Revenant Wings]]''.

** Lightning, Serah, and Snow in ''[[~~Final Fantasy XIII (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy XIII]]''. Presumably Fang and Vanille as well, since they {{spoiler|were in crystal stasis for several hundred years}}. Only Hope is the exception, and both his parents are seen during the course of the game, though his mother dies less than an hour in.

** Lightning, Serah, and Snow in ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]''. Presumably Fang and Vanille as well, since they {{spoiler|were in crystal stasis for several hundred years}}. Only Hope is the exception, and both his parents are seen during the course of the game, though his mother dies less than an hour in.

*** Though this is totally averted with the [[Big Bad]]. {{spoiler|It's unclear if, as a [[Mechanical Lifeform]], it really has parents, but the game is fond of related symbolism in regards to it, and at the very least it was abandoned by the gods who created it. Unlike the heroes, it took the [[Orphan's Ordeal|trauma]] of this situation rather badly. [[Suicidal Cosmic Temper Tantrum|very badly]] actually.}} Unfortunately the heroes never [[Not So Different|discuss this]].

** Rafa and Malak in ''[[~~Final Fantasy Tactics (Video Game)|~~Final Fantasy Tactics]]''.

** Rafa and Malak in ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]''.

* [[Follow the Leader|Similarly]], Dart from ''[[Legend of Dragoon]]'', in addition to the [[Doomed Hometown]] at the beginning of the game.

* [[Metroid|Samus Aran]] was orphaned and raised by Chozo, who have since [[Ascend to A Higher Plane of Existence|withdrawn from the universe]], leaving Samus with no familial ties.

* [[Metroid|Samus Aran]] was orphaned and raised by Chozo, who have since [[Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence|withdrawn from the universe]], leaving Samus with no familial ties.

* ''[[Disgaea]]'': Larharl and Etna are orphans. {{spoiler|At least, Laharl ''thinks'' he's one.}}

* As is Cornet, the main character of ''[[Rhapsody a Musical Adventure|Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure]]''. She lives with her grandfather. {{spoiler|If you've played Disgaea, you'll probably see the twist coming.}}

* ''[[~~La Pucelle (Video Game)|~~La Pucelle]]'': Prier, Aloutte and Coulette are orphans.

* ''[[La Pucelle]]'': Prier, Aloutte and Coulette are orphans.

* ''[[Phantom Brave]]'': Marona and Ash become orphans in the introduction.

* ''[[Soul Nomad and The World Eaters]]'': Revya and Danette are orphans.

* ''[[~~The Legend of Zelda (Franchise)|~~The Legend of Zelda]]'s'' Link is often an orphan. Zelda might also count in some of the games.

* ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'s'' Link is often an orphan. Zelda might also count in some of the games.

** She definitely counts in ''[[The Legend of Zelda ~~the~~ Wind Waker ~~(Video Game)~~|The Legend of Zelda the Wind Waker]]'', where her figurine clearly spells it out and an NPC early in the game mentions that her mother died.

** She definitely counts in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|The Legend of Zelda the Wind Waker]]'', where her figurine clearly spells it out and an NPC early in the game mentions that her mother died.

* ''[[Fire Emblem]]'' viciously delights in killing off family. It's gotten to the point that if a character has a parent/sibling/uncle that loves them, nine out of ten times they're dead before the game is up, if not killed before it. {{spoiler|Lyn's parents were both killed by bandits, Hector's parents and brother die of disease, Eliwood's dad is killed by Nergal, Raven's parents committed suicide when their house was attacked, Lucius's father was killed and his mother died of sickness, Serra's parents abandoned her, Erk's are absent, both Jaffar and Nino have dead parents, Lowen probably takes the cake though, having lost first his parents, then his grandparents in fairly quick succession.}}

** You missed the worst part of Nino's family situation: {{spoiler|Her adopted family are all bosses late in the game. The worst part of it is, they're not bad guys at all, and some of the conversations if you force Nino to attack them are pretty heart wrenching. Worse still, their dead bodies are reanimated in the last level, which means she has to kill them TWICE.}}

*** What about the other part? {{spoiler|When she faces off against Sonia, the woman she thought of as her mother her entire life and who she only wanted to please, the bitch is quite happy to tell Nino how she slaughtered the girl's real parents for their knowledge on dragons and Nino's real mother died shielding her. Oh, and the only reason Sonia didn't kill Nino as well is because she figured Nino might be useful later.}}

* In ''[[Tales of Vesperia]]'', just about everyone in your entire party is an orphan. With most of them, all we get is either the parent left or the parent died, or both, no further explanation. We only find out how one parent died, although it's implied (very ''very'' subtly) that several of the mothers died in childbirth. In all honesty, it feels a little ridiculous at times.

* ''[[~~Skies of Arcadia (Video Game)|~~Skies of Arcadia]]'': surprisingly, not the hero, but both other core members of your party. Aika is established early on to be an orphan, and Fina... well, there's no other Silvites left but some Elders, and [[The Dragon|Ramirez]].

* ''[[Skies of Arcadia]]'': surprisingly, not the hero, but both other core members of your party. Aika is established early on to be an orphan, and Fina... well, there's no other Silvites left but some Elders, and [[The Dragon|Ramirez]].

* In [[Baten Kaitos]], Kalas has no parents, although he makes mention to being raised by his grandfather, and to having a brother. {{spoiler|He's an [[Artificial Human]], and his grandfather actually created him.}}

** The prequel, surprisingly, averts this: Sagi's implied to be the only biological child of the woman who runs his town's orphanage, and Milly's dad is {{spoiler|one of the villains}}. Also played with: One of the boss fights culminates in YOU orphaning one of the original game's party members.

* In [[~~Golden Sun (Video Game)|~~Golden Sun]], the trope is very much zig-zagged for the main cast.

* In [[Golden Sun]], the trope is very much zig-zagged for the main cast.

** Isaac's father and Jenna's parents and brother are killed off right in the intro. Then it quickly turns out that the brother survived and seems to be an enemy. Then in the second game, {{spoiler|it turns out the trope is completely subverted: the parents and Isaac's dad also survived and were made hostages, and saving them is a big motivator to the quest. So the kids are not actually orphans... then [[Self-Made Orphan|they accidentally almost kill their own parents themselves]] near the end of the game.}} Poor Isaac's mother has to almost force her son to keep going on his quest and is a source of worry, as she falls gravely ill in his absence.

** Ivan is an orphan and his adoptive father is kidnapped as you meet him, but the trope is toyed with: you're told that you can't do anything about it and you should just leave the father behind, but Ivan worries a lot, and you get an optional sidequest to free his father and ease his mind; and in the second game {{spoiler|Ivan's mysterious parentage is a plot point}}.

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** Also parodied in the elven Alienage, where the number of "orphans" is directly proportional to the amount of money you're giving the beggars.

* [[Multiple Choice Past|Two of the three options]] in ''[[~~Mass Effect (Video Game)|~~Mass Effect]]'' for Shepard. With the spacer background, Shepard's mother is not only alive and well, but also helps [[Gender Neutral Writing|him/her]] out during one of the optional sidequests (though that's the only conversation they have in all three games).

* [[Multiple Choice Past|Two of the three options]] in ''[[Mass Effect]]'' for Shepard. With the spacer background, Shepard's mother is not only alive and well, but also helps [[Gender Neutral Writing|him/her]] out during one of the optional sidequests (though that's the only conversation they have in all three games).

* Implied to be the case with the eponymous characters of the ''[[Jak and Daxter]]'' series. They get flung forward in time in the sequel, and don't have any problem staying around. The orphan thing is explored/confirmed for [[The Hero|Jak]], but is still only an implication for Daxter, though [[Fanon|no one is saying otherwise]].

* Ratchet of ''[[Ratchet and Clank]]'' believes he is the only Lombax left in the universe. Although {{spoiler|this is proven wrong when Alister Azimuth, another Lombax, appears}} in ''[[Ratchet and Clank]]'' Future: A Crack in Time, Ratchet is forced to {{spoiler|kill Azimuth at the end, leaving him alone once again}}.

* Of the eight human protagonists of ''[[~~Persona 3 (Video Game)|~~Persona 3]]''; three are orphans, one is probably an orphan (dead mother, no mention of father but is being supported by a distant cousin), as are all three villains, two only have a mother, one only has a father, and only one has two living parents. Whether it is a matter of convenience or not is arguable, as the family situations of the cast of ''[[~~Persona 4 (Video Game)|~~Persona 4]]'' (one case of parents are both alive but traveling so staying with uncle, three cases of parents both alive and living with them, one case of dead father but living mother, one case of living parents but staying with grandmother, and one case of parents dead and living alone with aid of grandfather) rarely become an issue.

* Of the eight human protagonists of ''[[Persona 3]]''; three are orphans, one is probably an orphan (dead mother, no mention of father but is being supported by a distant cousin), as are all three villains, two only have a mother, one only has a father, and only one has two living parents. Whether it is a matter of convenience or not is arguable, as the family situations of the cast of ''[[Persona 4]]'' (one case of parents are both alive but traveling so staying with uncle, three cases of parents both alive and living with them, one case of dead father but living mother, one case of living parents but staying with grandmother, and one case of parents dead and living alone with aid of grandfather) rarely become an issue.

** The tone of the game may help. ''Persona 3'' is darker than ''Persona 4'' and most of the time, the abandoment is ether a direct or indirect result of the Krijo group's expermentation on the Shadows, with the other two members having parents that made it personally preferable to live in the dorm.

* In ''[[~~Neverwinter Nights 2 (Video Game)|~~Neverwinter Nights 2]]'', your mother died when you were a baby, during {{spoiler|Ammon Jerro's duel with the [[Big Bad|King of Shadows]]}}. Your father is a complete question mark, [[They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot|a point that might have made an excellent sidequest]].

* In ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2]]'', your mother died when you were a baby, during {{spoiler|Ammon Jerro's duel with the [[Big Bad|King of Shadows]]}}. Your father is a complete question mark, [[They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot|a point that might have made an excellent sidequest]].

* [[Deconstructed Trope|Deconstructed]] with a vengence in ''[[Drakengard]]''.

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* Characters from [http://www.goldcoincomics.com Gold Coin Comics], such as Lance and Theo.

* "Onion Kid" alias "Rex" alias {{spoiler|"Sarda"}} from ''[[8-Bit Theater (Webcomic)|Eight Bit Theater]]'' was orphaned so often, that he's stopped looking for foster parents or even an orphanage who'd still take him in. This trauma is actually the cause for pretty much everything that happened in the comic to begin with, thanks to a [[Stable Time Loop]].

* Hanna of [[Hanna Is Not a ~~Boys~~ Name]] never mentions his family, but it's implied that he has no immediate relatives in the city.

* Hanna of [[Hanna Is Not a Boy's Name]] never mentions his family, but it's implied that he has no immediate relatives in the city.

* [[The Dreamland Chronicles]]: [http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/chapter-05/page-284/ Felicity lightly mentions that she was orphaned.]

* Jade Harley from [[Homestuck]], who was raised by her pet dog after her grandfather died. {{spoiler|Technically speaking, John is an orphan too: both his and Jade's biological parents are long dead. He is raised by his 'father', who is technically his half-brother. Oh, and his and Jade's biological parents are John's grandmother and Jade's grandfather. [[Mind Screw|Confused yet?]]}}

** And as of {{spoiler|2/19, all of the kids are orphans in both the traditional and technical sense. [[Funny Aneurysm Moment|Damn.]]}}

** Troll society is entirely like this, as the adults go off to conquer the universe while they leave the planet in the hands of the youth for the most part, leaving them to be [[Raised By Wolves]]. At least until events cause all of said Wolves to die, but they remained as their sprites. {{spoiler|Until Jack Noir killed them all over again.}}

** Troll society is entirely like this, as the adults go off to conquer the universe while they leave the planet in the hands of the youth for the most part, leaving them to be [[Raised by Wolves]]. At least until events cause all of said Wolves to die, but they remained as their sprites. {{spoiler|Until Jack Noir killed them all over again.}}

** In the Alpha universe, {{spoiler|Roxy and Dirk}}. It's hinted that {{spoiler|Betty Crocker}} had their parents killed in order to get them interested in playing Sburb.

* Most of the cast in [[Dubious Company]]. Sal is the only character firmly established as having living relatives.

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* Sinedd of [[Galactik Football]] is able to run off and join The Shadows despite a large song and dance being made in the very same episode about the need for parental permission. His departure isn't justified with this trope for another 18 episodes.

** Orphan or not, Sinedd was already of age, making the parental permission unnecessary for him.

* The Disney version of [[Aladdin (Disney)|Aladdin]]. The original folklore version had a dead father but a living mother; the Disney version has neither parent until we find out in the third movie that his father only [[Disappeared Dad|disappeared.]]

* The Disney version of [[Aladdin (Disney film)|Aladdin]]. The original folklore version had a dead father but a living mother; the Disney version has neither parent until we find out in the third movie that his father only [[Disappeared Dad|disappeared.]]

** According to [[Word of God]], the Disney Aladdin was originally supposed to have a mom, who functioned as his conscience of sorts; however, it was decided that the [[An Aesop|Aesop]] would be more meaningful [[Be Yourself|if he learned it on his own]].

* Likely a requirement to be part of the ''[[Teen Titans (~~Animation~~)|Teen Titans]]'', because what sort of parents would let their children put their lives on the line in weekly superheroics? And sure enough, the only living parent to any of the Titans ever seen in the series is not a very [[Satan|nice guy]].

* Likely a requirement to be part of the ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'', because what sort of parents would let their children put their lives on the line in weekly superheroics? And sure enough, the only living parent to any of the Titans ever seen in the series is not a very [[Satan|nice guy]].

** Cyborg's father is (presumably) alive. In the comics he was the one who made him a... well, [[Shaped Like Itself|Cyborg]].

** We also get to meet Beast Boy's (adoptive) parents, Elasti-Girl is pretty nice, but Mento is bit of a jerk.

** In ''[[Teen Titans Go ~~(Comic Book)~~|Teen Titans Go]]'' Raven's mother is alive after {{spoiler|Trigon's defeat}}.

** In ''[[Teen Titans Go!|Teen Titans Go]]'' Raven's mother is alive after {{spoiler|Trigon's defeat}}.

** Robin's parents are dead as always, but this incarnation heavily implies that he even ditched his "father" [[Batman]] so he could move on. (And ended up gathering a bunch of friends around him instead, but no adults. The closest thing to a parent he has is [[Big Bad|Slade]] purring about what a great apprentice he could be...)

* Buck and Larry 3000 of ''[[Time Squad]]'' needed Otto from the 20th century since he knows more history than they do. Since he's an orphan with no real roots, they adopted him despite the fact that it might alter history.